Method of stretching shoe-uppers.



C. P. vBENNIONl METHODUF STRBTGHING SHOE UPPERS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13, 1914.

L.. Patented m1154915.

mgl. l/l//T/vSSLS /N Vf/V TUR @TAE PATENT CHARLES FAWCETT BENNION, OF LEICESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW' JERSEY,

JERSEY.

TA. CORPORATIUN OF NEW METHOD OF STRETGHNG SHOE-UPPERS.

Original application led August 3, 1912, Serial No. 713,083.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented dan. 5, illll.

Divided and this application filed .Tuly 13,

1914. Serial No. 850,788.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, CHARLES F. BENNION, a subject of the King of England, residing at Leicester, Leicestershire, England, have invented certain Improvements in Methods of Stretching Shoe-Uppers, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the draw-- ings indicating like parts in the several figures.

Ill'his invention relates to the manufacture of shoes and particularly to certain improvements in methods of stretching leather as, for example, for stretching and shaping uppers to lasts, and is herein shown as applied to the art of pulling over shoes.

It is well known that for shaping uppers to the foreparts of lasts it is important to stretch the upper both lengthwise to draw it forwardly on the last and also transversely to wrap it under tension around the sides of the last. l have found that the upper can be most elfectually stretched by repeatedly tensioning it lengthwise and by tensioning it transversely between lengthwise pulling movements. In the application of this improved method to modern shoemaking conditions I have found it advantageous first to pull the upper lengthwise by drawing it forwardly on the last, then preferably to relax the forward pull somewhat while stretching it transversely and then to renew and extend the forward pull. By this operation l am enabled to tit uppers to high-toed lasts with less difculty than has heretofore been the case. rlhe first forward pull causes the upper drawn forwardly down the instep of the last to bridge from the instep to the high toe. A transverse pull effected thereafter, and preferably while the longitudinal pull is somewhat relaxed, draws the upper down to the low portion of the last between the instep and the high toe, and the renewed and extended forward pull then brings the upper so drawn down forwardly toward the toe end of the last, causing it to conform to the contour of the toe. -lf desired, a second transverse pull may then be applied for further tightening the upper down over the low portion of the last. As l am advised, it is new to stretch an upper by repeatedly pulling it longitudinally and pullinglit transversely between the longitudinal pu s.

The invention will now be explained in connection with one form of apparatus by means of which it may be practised. This apparatus constitutes the subject-matter of my allowed application Ser. No. 713,083, filed August 3, 1912, of which this present application is a division.

Figure l is a diagrammatic view showing the upper stretched in accordance with this invention, the arrow headed lines 1, 2 and 3 indicating respectively the longitudinal and the transverse and the repeated longitudinal stretching, which may or may not be accompanied by a repeated transverse stretching such as indicated at 4. Fig. 2 shows a portion of an apparatus by which this invention may be practised. Figs. 3 and Il show respectively cams adapted for use in said apparatus for eh'ecting longitudinal stretching movement by the toe gripper and transverse stretching movement by the side grippers.

ln the drawings the toe gripper is indicated at 10 and stretches the upper by movements relatively to the last for pulling the upper forwardly upon the last whereby it is drawn down the instep of the last. The side grippers are indicated at 12, being arranged to engage the upper on opposite sides of the forepart of the last and operating to stretch the upper transversely of the last. The toe gripper is operated by a lever 11 connected with the cam 16, Fig. 3, the path of which comprises two high portions A', A with preferably a low portion as well as a dwell between the two high points. rlhe side grippers are operated by levers 13 connected with a cam 17 which may have one or a plurality of high points by means of which to stretch the upper transversely one or more times, alternating with the longitudinal pulls on the upper.

In practising the invention under other conditions than those illustrated, it might be desirable to impart to the stock alternate and longitudinal and transverse pulling movements an indefinite number of times and such an operation would be within this invention.

Having explained this invention and described how it may be practised, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States:-

l. rIhat improvement in umethods of making shoes which consists in repeatedly stretching the upper lengthwise and in stretching the upper transversely from opposite sides simultaneously between two lengthwise stretching movements and relaxing the lengthwise tension to allow the transverse tension to draw the upper into the low part of the top face of the last between the instep and the top of the toe.

2. That improvement in methods of making shoes which consists in repeatedly and alternately stretching the upper in directions extending longitudinally and transversely of the shoe and in relaxing the pull in one direction while the pull in the other direction is made.

3. lIhat improvement in methods of making shoes which consists in first pulling 4the upper lengthwise of the shoe, then reupper transversely of the shoe from oppo` site sides simultaneously, and then again pulling the upper lengthwise of the shoe.

4. That improvement in methods of making shoes which consists in drawing the upper forwardly down the instep of the last and causing it to bridge from the instep to the top of the toe, then relaxing the forward pull and stretching the upper transversely into the low portion between the instep and the toe, and then again applying forward tension to the toe end of the upper.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES FAWCETT BENNION.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK IILLIAM WORTH, Gnou. HERBERT Cnoss.

Uopies ofthis patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

